Ducks' Getzlaf ready for rare visit by Crosby, Penguins

2013-2014 At the Rink BlogDucks' Getzlaf ready for rare visit by Crosby, Penguins

ANAHEIM --Ryan Getzlaf smiled because he knew the questions were coming about playing against Sidney Crosby, his teammate with Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins will make a rare appearance at Honda Center on Friday to face Getzlaf's Anaheim Ducks. Crosby has come here three times previously, but not since 2010.

So what about facing that Crosby kid?

"How did I know that question was coming?" Getzlaf said. "Any time we're playing an opponent from the East we want to send a message that we can compete in both [conferences]. I think that Sid and the Penguins bring a big test in our building and we're excited about it, for sure."

Getzlaf has one point in three games since the Olympic break and missed a glorious scoring chance late in a loss Wednesday. Crosby is coming off one of his worst career games, a minus-5 against the San Jose Sharks, which has Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau on high alert.

"The worst thing that ever happened was him being minus-5 [Thursday]," Boudreau said. "He doesn't very rarely have a sub-par game, so he's somebody that's going to be very dangerous [Friday]."

With the departure from Anaheim of Dustin Penner and the injury to Mathieu Perreault, Jakob Silfverberg is seeing more ice time. His 15:33 of ice time Wednesday was his most since Jan. 15. Silfverberg, an Olympic silver medalist with Sweden, had been scratched four times in a nine-game span.

Silfverberg said he wasn't frustrated, but also looked forward to the increased ice time.

"It's always fun to play a lot," Silfverberg said. "We made a couple of moves now at the [NHL] Trade Deadline, which opened up spaces. You've got to show the coaches you want to play more. I hope I still get to play some more."

Rickard Rakell was recalled for depth at center. Rakell made the Ducks' opening-night roster last season as a 19-year-old and this season was tied for the lead with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League in points and plus/minus at the time of his recall Thursday.